Automatic spigot or faucet



June 27, 1933. w JOHNSON l 1,915,739

AUTOMATIC SPlGOT OH FAUCET Filed Aug. 10, 1932 "H20 2116 J5 22 23 24 n 2544 @'27 6' l INVENTOR ATTOR N EYS Li i Patented .lune 2?, 1933 narraN stars WILLIAM L. JOHNSON, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA AUTOMATIC SPIGOT `GR FAUGIT Application filed August 10, 1932. Serial No. 628,237.

rlhe invention relates to a spigot or faucet and more especially to an automatic spigot or faucet..

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a spigot or faucet of this character, wherein the valve for opening and closing the same is automatically controlled and the same opened by the weight of a receptacle upon a trigger, such as a watering can or other container, the trigger being constructed to permit the hanging of the receptacle by its bail or handle thereon and the weight of such article will actuate the said trigger for the automatic opening of the spigot or faucet and upon opening fluid can be delivered into the receptacle.

Another object of the invention is the pro` vision of a spigot or faucet of this character, wherein the necessity for the hand turning of a valve is entirely eliminated either for the opening or closing of the spigot or faucet and the latter will be automatic so that upon the hanging of a pail, watering can or other container thereon the same will be opened for the discharge of water into the container, thus avoiding hand manipulation of such spigot or faucet for this purpose.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a spigot or faucet of this character which is extremely simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and eflicient in its operation, possessing but few parts, these being readily replaceable, and also inexpensive to manufacture and install.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of con struction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which discloses the preferred embodiment of the invention, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a. perspective view of a spigot or faucet constructed in accordance with'the invention showing a watering can hung thereon for the automatic opening of said spigot or faucet. n

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view through the spigot or fau cet with the valve in open position.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view thereof.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the valve guide.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, A designates generally a spigot or faucet constituting the present invention and hereinafter fully described in detail.

The spigot or faucet comprises an elongated cylindrical body 5 having the appearance of a nozzle, the same being formed at its inner end with a circular portion- 6 which is of o'reater diameter than the cross sectional diameter of said body while next to this cir `ilar portion 6 is fiat faced wrench engaging enlargement 7 externally of the body so that the latter by the use of a wrench (not shown) can be threaded onto a supply pipe 8 or the like.

The body at a slight distance inwardly of the louter end is formed with a discharge spout 9 through which liquid is dispensed by the spigot or faucet. Located inwardly of the body with respect to the spout 9 is a valve seat 10 through which is slidably arranged a valve stem 11 carrying the valve f" 12 for engagement with the 'seat 10 and by such engagement the flow of liquid through the spigot or faucet is shut oli' to the spout 9. The valve stem 11 projects forwardly of the body 5 into a socket 13 which latter opens into a space 14 opening through the outer end of said body. Within the socket 13 and surrounding the stem 11 is a coiled expansion spring 15 which is seated in said socket and works against an abutment pin 16 carried by the outer end of the stem 11 and this spring functions to move the valve 12 onto the seat 10 for the closing of the faucet.

Mounted in the space 14 in the outer end of the body 5 is a trigger 17 swingingly supported upon a. pivot 18 engaged in the side cheeks of the body 5 for the space 14. The trigger 17 projects eXteriorly of the body 5 and is formed with a linger engageable button on the end of the trigger extension 19 whereby the trigger can be manually depressed for effecting the opening of the valve 12. The trigger 17 at its upper edge is provided with a pivot extension 20 having pivoted at 21 thereto a link 22, the same being attached to a coiled retractile spring 23 which is also attached to a plug 24 held limited for sliding movement by a set screw 25 threaded into the body 5 thereby varying the tension of the spring 23. This spring 28 Gli' functions to move the trigger 17 to a position for permitting the automatic closing of the valve 12 under the action of the spring 13 when pressure is released from the extension 19 of said trigger.

The trigger 17 is provided with a projection 26 engageable with the stem 11 to move the saine in a direction for the opening of the valve 12 on depressing the extension 19 of the trigger 17. This trigger 17 is also provided with a friction cam 27 coacting with a spring pressed friction ball 28, the same and its spring 29 housed within a barrel 8O formed on the body 5, the spring being acted upon by a tensioning' screw 31 threaded into the barrel 30. It will be apparent that the ball 28 rides the cam 27 of the trigger 17 when the latteris depressed or released.

The trigger 17 at the extension 19 inwardy of the button 82 thereon is formed with a notch 33 opening through the upper edge of the extension and this notch constitutes a seat for a bail or handle 311 of a receptacle 35, in this instance being shown as a watering can. Normally the trigger 17 is swung upwardly and in this position the valve 12 is closed. lV hen pressure or weight is applied to the extension 19 ofthe trigger 17 as for example the hanging of a handle or bail 34 of the receptacle 35 in the notch 33 in said eX- tension 19 the trigger 17 will be caused to lower and in this movement the projection 26 acts upon the stem 11 moving the valve 12 from the seat 10, thereby opening the faucet.

In Figure 2 of the drawing by full lines is shown one step or position of movement of the trigger 17, while by dotted lines are shown'further steps of movement of the said trigger whereby the valve 12 can be moved from a normal closed position in engagement with the seat 10 to an open position away from said seat. The spring 15 serves to tension the valve 12 for the movement thereof to closed position when released by the trigger 17, while the spring 23 functions to lift the trigger to full upward position when pressure or weight is removed therefrom.

lt should be apparent that the spigot or faucet can be opened by hand through depressing the button 32 of the extension 19 of the trigger 17 and also by the hanging of a pail or other like receptacle upon the trigger 17 the weight of said can or receptacle or the like depressing the trigger 17 and thus automatically opening the valve 12 for the discharge or dispensing of liquid through the spigot or faucet as will be apparent in Figure '1 of the drawing.

The stem 11 inwardly of the valve 12, next thereto and contacting the same is a four arm guide or spider 36 which centers the valve 12 and reciprocates within the bore 37 of the body 5 for the liquid so that such liquid can flow by the valve 12 when in open position v and be discharged through the spout 9 of the spigot or faucet;

The spout 9 at its mouth is preferably eX- ternally threaded at 38 for the connection of the hose therewith.

llVhat is claimed is:

1. A faucet of the character described comprising a cylindrical body having a discharge spout, a valve seat formed interiorly of the body rearwardly of the spout, a valve engageable with the seat for closing communication between the body and spout, a spring normally holding the valve seated, a spring tensioned trigger at the outer end of the body and active upon the valve by applied pressure or weight to said trigger for the opening of the valve, and an adjustably tensioned friction means coacting with the trigger.

2. A faucet of the character described comprising a cylindrical body having a discharge spout, a valve seat formed interiorily of the body rearwardly of the spout, a valve engageable with the seat for closing communication between the bo'dy and spout, a sming normally holding the valve seated, a spring tcnsioned trigger at the outer end of the body and active upon the valve by applied pressure or weight to said trigger for the opening of the valve, an adjustably gensioned friction means coacting with the trigger, and a spider-like guide connected with the valve to center the same in the body relative to its seat.

3. A faucet of the character described comprising a cylindrical body having a discharge spout, a valve seat formed interiorly of the body rearwardly of the spout, a valve engageable with the seat for closing communication between the body and spout, a spring normally holding the valve seated, a spring tensioned trigger at the outer. end of the body and active upon the valve by applied pressure or weight to said trigger for the opening ofthe valve', an adjustably tensioned 'friction means coacting with the trigger, a spider-like guide connected with the valve to center t-he saine in the b`ody relative to its seat, and means for varying the tension of the trigger spring, said trigger being movable by said spring into a position for permitting the seating of the valve on the release of lthe applied pressure or weight to the trigger.

1n testimony whereof I afiX my signature.

VILLIAM L. JOI- NSON. 

